Chapter 233: Mio-chan, Don't Be Such a Stranger
"Is it possible that I simply have medicine stocked in my own home?" Hikigaya retorted with a straight face.
Seriously, what normal person doesn't have some medicine stocked at home? Waiting for someone to deliver medicine to your door the moment you get sick—that's just pure nonsense from novels and anime, isn't it?
When he went to visit Shiina Hiyori yesterday, he mainly brought food. Although he had brought medicine just in case, it turned out that Shiina Hiyori was a normal person who knew how to take medicine herself.
"..."
Ibuki Mio was stunned for a moment, then she pouted with an annoyed expression. "In other words, I was just meddling where I wasn't wanted and made a trip for nothing?"
'Exactly!'
If it were the old Hikigaya, he would have definitely replied that directly. However, after spending time with several girls, Hikigaya had gradually learned how to read the air.
"That's not it. I'm very happy that you were able to come, Ibuki."
Hikigaya let his dead-fish eyes droop and blathered casually, "It's the thought that counts most."
"Hmph~ Well, of course!
I'm someone who values loyalty!"
The corners of Ibuki Mio's mouth curled up, and her mood instantly became cheerful.
'You can rest easy now, Komachi. Your brother has learned how to coax girls!'
"So, is there anything I can do?"
Ibuki Mio asked.
"I feel a bit hungry. Help me make something to eat?"
Hikigaya added a sentence: "It doesn't need to be complicated, just plain congee is fine."
"What?! That look in your eyes is way too condescending!"
Ibuki Mio rolled up her sleeves, prepared to show off her skills.
Thirty minutes later...
A pungent smell of burning permeated the entire Room 404. Hikigaya hurriedly directed Ibuki Mio to open the windows and turn on the fans for ventilation.
"Why did it turn out like this?"
Ibuki Mio looked at the lump of burnt white congee in the pot and fell into a state of questioning her life choices.
"When making congee, you have to constantly scrape the bottom so it doesn't burn."
Hikigaya spoke with a face full of speechlessness.
"I say, Ibuki, are you a cooking idiot?!"
"No, that's not right!
I'm just not good at making congee. I still know how to cook noodles!"
Ibuki Mio tried to quibble.
"Instant noodles?"
"Yes... er!"
Hikigaya wore a face that said "you win." He pointed to the burnt congee in the pot, signaling for her to serve it to him.
"Ah? You're actually going to eat it?"
Ibuki Mio looked surprised.
"Ah~ after all, it's the first time Mio-chan has cooked congee; I should eat it with gratitude."
Hikigaya placed a hand over his heart; he was saying things that went against his conscience. Of course, the most important thing was that he was truly hungry right now!
"...Y-y-you, don't talk nonsense!!"
Ibuki Mio's eyes flew open, and a flush quickly surged onto her cheeks.
Yo~
This stubborn blue-haired girl was actually quite cute when she was shy.
Perhaps his head was heating up and he was a bit muddled from the fever, but Hikigaya's words became bolder: "Mio-chan, don't be such a stranger. With our relationship, isn't it perfectly reasonable to use pet names for each other?"
After thinking seriously, Ibuki Mio spoke tentatively: "Then, should I call you... Hachi-hachi?"
"Eh?!"
Hikigaya instantly snapped half-awake.
"No, buddy? You're for real?!"
Looking at her clear and serious gaze, he suddenly became a bit flustered.
"Huh?"
The shyness on Ibuki Mio's face instantly turned into a "red-hot" temperature: "Hikigaya! Just go die!!"
"Hontoni sumimasen!!!" (I am truly sorry!!!)
Hikigaya immediately bent 90 degrees in a sincere apology. Ibuki Mio raised a foot, intending to kick Hikigaya fiercely in the face. However, at the moment she was about to hit Hikigaya's forehead, she came to a hard stop.
Her fair toes were less than a centimeter away from Hikigaya's chin. He could even clearly see the faint blue veins on the top of her foot.
Gulp~
Hikigaya couldn't help but swallow his saliva.
Don't misunderstand. He was referring to the congee.
"Hmph! I'll keep this debt on the tab for now!
Once you've recovered, just wait and see if I don't kick your mouth into pieces!"
Ibuki Mio suppressed her anger and threatened him fiercely. After that, she turned around, picked up the ladle, and began to serve the congee.
"Phew~"
'She actually held back; it seems this girl's temper has improved quite a bit!'
Hikigaya reminded her: "Scoop from the top layer, it's not as burnt. Thanks."
"Tch! You sure have a lot of demands!"
Ibuki Mio clicked her tongue. Although her expression was very displeased, she honestly did as he requested.
"Mnh, it's really good."
Perhaps he was truly hungry; Hikigaya ate the bowl of plain congee with great relish. Seeing that he actually ate it, Ibuki Mio's expression softened slightly: "Consider yourself sensible!"
After eating his fill and regaining some strength, Hikigaya's mental state recovered a bit.
"Ibuki, while you're at it, help me wash my clothes too."
"Huh? Youu, don't push your luck!"
"How is this pushing my luck? When I went to visit Hiyori yesterday, I also helped her wash her clothes."
Hikigaya argued his point convincingly.
"...!"
Ibuki Mio's brows furrowed, her hands clenched into fists, and her expression flickered unpredictably.
"What 'you' this and 'you' that?
I can take care of a patient, but you can't take care of me?"
Hikigaya was clearly using twisted logic. First of all, he was the one who took care of Shiina Hiyori, not Ibuki Mio. If that favor was to be returned, it should be returned by the former; it had nothing to do with the latter.
"Che! It's just washing clothes, how hard can it be?"
To his surprise, Ibuki Mio actually accepted it.
'Is this girl returning the favor on Hiyori's behalf?'
"Huh? How come your place doesn't even have a washing machine?"
Ibuki Mio took a look in the bathroom.
"Sorry, I'm usually used to hand-washing."
Mainly because he felt a washing machine took up too much space and was too noisy.
"You promised me, you can't go back on your word!"
Hikigaya winked; he was clearly calculating against Ibuki on purpose here.
Looking at the pile of dirty clothes on the sink, the one on top was a pair of underwear with an elephant pattern.
"Dammit!
Brute!
Go to hell!"
Ibuki Mio bared her teeth and grumbled continuously, but with her stubborn personality, she wouldn't violate her own promise.
Splash, splash~
"Stupid Hachiman... Stupid Hachiman..."
Hearing the sound of running water and the very forceful scrubbing noises coming from the bathroom...
"Heh..."
Hikigaya couldn't help but laugh out loud, though he quickly covered it with both hands. His mood was absolutely delightful!
About ten minutes passed.
The door to Room 404 was knocked on again.
'Who else is coming at this time?'
Hikigaya checked the time; it was currently during the third period of the morning classes.
'Don't tell me it's another person skipping class?'
Filled with doubt, Hikigaya opened the door.
"Ta-da~ We've come to visit you, Hachiman-kun~~"
"Are you surprised? Is it unexpected?"
Read ahead (160 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting